With BSM strategies from GSS America, technologies and processes are executed efficiently to deliver new services that create more business value while supporting existing services at a lower cost.

Organizations around the world and in every industry are using BSM to reduce the cost of running IT, increase business impact, improve quality of service, manage risk, and provide transparency to business stakeholders. GSS America utilizes BSM to assist customers to:

• Simplify and apply standard processes across the IT organization
• Use automation to get work done more efficiently across mainframe and distributed environments
• Plan, manage, and execute projects and activities based on business priorities
• Make better, fact-based decisions
• Eliminate equipment redundancy and network latencies
• Apply an enterprise wide cost effective operating model

GSS America’s approach for global sourcing

* Understanding the client’s requirement specification
* Screening capable candidates through rigorous evaluation processes
* Client selects the required candidates for specified duration of time
* For exclusive requirements, we draw on our database, online and offline media, and networks and contacts across the globe

For cost effective extension of your team, we offer “Offshore Staffing Process” that enables you to:

* Extend your team for some time with a group of offshore workers
* Create your own offshore team that will be exclusively used for your projects

GSS America Infotech – Leading IT and business optimization enabler, offshore remote infrastructure management and virtualization, application services and legacy migration, portals and content management – Services

“We have identified some companies of different sizes, which make strategic sense and increase our depth in the same line of business. The process of raising funds and utilising them for acquisitions will be completed in a span of one year,” Bhargav Marepally, chief executive officer and managing director of GSS, told Business Standard.

The 11-year-old company, which went public in February 2008, has a little over Rs 100 crore cash reserves, including a portion of the IPO proceeds and the rest internal resources, on its books as on June 2009. “We want to keep that powder dry for our organic growth,”he added.

The company had so far acquired three entities – Infospectrum Consulting in 2006, System Dynamix Corporation in 2008 and ATEC Group in 2009. Its stock ended the trade at Rs 302.30 on the BSE on Thursday, up 1.07 per cent over the previous close of 299.10.

According to N Siva Kumar, senior vice-president (operations and global delivery) of GSS, the company is looking at replicating the virtualisation storage capabilities that came into its fold through the acquisition of ATEC in the Indian and West Asian markets.

“Our exposure to the Indian market is less than single-digit as we always used it for delivery and didn’t see it as a marketplace. We will be setting up three centres of excellence (CoEs) – one each for virtualisation, software-as-a-service (SaaS)-based applications and cloud computing with an employee strength of 100 people – which will be operational from September 2010,” he said.

“The spend by all the electricity boards and other bodies in India is estimated at Rs 20,000 crore in three years’ time. However, when you look at IMS providers, there are large players like HCL Technologies and Wipro and after that there is a huge vacuum. This is the space which we want to target at,” Kumar said, adding the company is conservatively looking at $20 million (Rs 92.5 crore) revenues from the Indian market in the next financial year.

GSS America, which has 944 employees on its roaster including 220 working out of Hyderabad, currently garners 90 per cent of its revenues from the US. The company projects $100 million revenues ( around Rs 460 crore) in FY11 as against $80 million (370 crore) last fiscal.

Datacenters

• Datacenters now account for more than 1.5% of electricity consumption in the US, and by 2020, carbon emissions will rise to 680 million tons per year.
• The cost of power consumption will be almost $9 billion by 2011.
• As of September 2009, the average cost of utilities in a 100,000 sq ft datacenter is close to $6 million.

Setting up an eco datacenter has become critical for all companies, especially offshore outsourcing firms.

Steps to Make a Datacenter More Environment Friendly

According to reviews by industry analysts, datacenters can become more eco-friendly by adopting strategies like reduction of data center hot spots, implementing virtualization, storage consolidation and deploying services for the right infrastructure. In order to get started, an organization can follow these steps:

• Evaluate its energy efficiency by reviewing energy bills, learning where it originates from and how it is distributed in the enterprise. In addition, by monitoring and reducing energy usage, the company can calculate the ROI after implementing the changes.
• Redesign the cooling system by enclosing the servers in hot aisles so the racks get the cooling directly. Additionally, proper airflow should be ensured by sealing vulnerable spots in the datacenter and implementing proper air ducts.
• Invest in the reduction of redundant heating and cooling systems. Redundancy generally causes maximum power flow, but only a fraction is actually put to use. This process is inefficient and wasteful. The key is to operate based on current needs rather than on projected needs.
• Invest in scalable blade servers that plan for optimum resource usage in peak power needs, consume less space and use less power to run. In other words, using a scalable infrastructure gives a company the required bandwidth to expand to a higher power consumption mode as and when required.
• By investing in storage virtualization, a company can make critical applications available on-demand and eliminate unused servers. The information can be location independent and redirected across multiple I/O devices from different vendors.

GSS America, a premier offshore outsourcing company, is committed to making its datacenters ‘green.’ Through frequent reviews, GSS America leverages efficient resources to gain traction in the competitive infrastructure management vertical.

Features of a SharePoint based LMS

In an ever evolving industry like technology outsourcing and offshore development, SharePoint based LMS holds a high place in the development of both its people and process. Some features of such an LMS are:

• Interactive delivery of all learning content
• Course catalogs
• Assessment and tests based on knowledge specific domain
• Group/mentor rooms with file sharing capabilities
• Generating progress reports and individual skills tracking
• Integration of collaborative tools like chat, threaded discussion pools and webinars
• Podcasting
• Competency gap analysis
• Compliance with standards like Sharable Content Object Reference Model (SCORM) 1.2, 2004
• Integration with SharePoint Learning Kit (SLK) and MS SQL Server

A SharePoint LMS effectively eliminates all shortcomings of an employee’s learning process in a corporate setup and eliminates fraud in the knowledge transfer process. Moreover, racketeering of knowledge by any particular entity is eradicated due to increased levels of transparency and accountability in the system.

The Harvard Kennedy School of Government (HKS) has a SharePoint based LMS to deliver their courses and training modules to their students online. It has partnered with an LMS vendor to support their learning initiatives in a state-of-the-art manner.

Challenges of a SharePoint based LMS

According to reviews by GSS America, these are the top challenges that a SharePoint based LMS faces in many organizations:

• Customization
• Content Integration
• Integration with Human Resource Information Systems (HRIS)
• Administration on a regular basis
• IT related issues
• Overall system performance

Corporate knowledge comes in many shapes and sizes and is prone to fraud and racketeering. Thus, many studies have been conducted to define, analyze and place a value on the notion of corporate learning and knowledge acquisition. While there is no quantifiable way to measure its value, knowledge is clearly an important asset to all companies and organizations. SharePoint, with a few customizations and third-party add-ons, can provide the tools necessary to facilitate a culture of capturing and sharing knowledge among employees.

The impact of data loss or attempts to fraud sensitive information has a damaging impact on smaller businesses. The costs associated with protecting a business after a data loss and racketeering can put it out of business. However, despite the risk of data loss and other security threats, an enterprise simply cannot stop sharing data. Data centers may need to share information with remote offices and external partners. Data in transit should always be encrypted using special software that uses the CPU cycles for encryption.

Issues in Implementing Tape Encryption

According to reviews by GSS America, a leading IT outsourcing and technology offshore development organization, there are several approaches to implementing tape encryption and ensure the security of data. One way is to encrypt the tape from within the backup system. There are, however, a couple of issues with this approach. Firstly, existing backups may not offer this option and even if they do, the pricing may depend on the number of tape drives and media the package is supporting. If the number of drives and media are immense, the pricing becomes exorbitant.

The second issue appears after implementation when the backup system encounters additional overheads in encryption as well as in taking a full backup of the data. Due to the encryption process, the system may require extra processing power to handle this job without impacting other resources. This can significantly alter the SLAs and have a severe impact on an organization’s revenue and client retention rates.

The Future of Tape Encryption

Tape encryption in the coming years would comprise of a services-based model aimed at solving issues related to costs and operational overheads. The solution comprises of two key components:

Outboard Encryption: Advances in cryptology, design and processor packaging are driving a new paradigm of tape encryption that features outboard encryption that plans to address all shortcomings of the existing encryption options. Outboard encryption shifts cryptographic processing from host processing units, extends encryption to all connectors and scales performances across all tape drives.

Enterprise Tape Encryption (ETE) Architecture: ETE is an extension of outboard encryption and will be based on distributed services. ETE mirrors SOA and is a highly scalable and secure architecture. The ETE comprises of layers like:

• Encryption service requester layer
• Encryption services layer
• Cryptographic processing layer

Advantages of Disk-based backup

Apart from faster performance, disk-based drives are durable and are less vulnerable to external factors such as heat and humidity. As opposed to magnetic tapes, restoring a disk involves minimal data loss, whereas restoring a tape involved approximately 25%-30% of data loss. Disks can also withstand many overwrites. As disks are contained in sealed cases, chances of external contamination and head-cleaning are hardly required. Finally, disk-based backups are easier to manage as opposed to the logistical nightmares involving scores of tape cartridges. Disk backups include management tools that allow you to easily configure settings and check system performance. Additionally, a proper disk-backup plan can even thwart potential data racketeering.

Reviews of Consistency in Disk-based Backup

For any organization, it is extremely essential to ensure that data backed in a disk is consistent so that it can be quickly restored in case of disasters like theft, attempt of fraud, crash and racketeering. This consistency needs to be evident on three different levels; crash consistency, file system consistency, and application level consistency.

In an NAS environment, the storage system software runs a quick file system consistency check before taking a snapshot of the system and ensuring the snapshot is consistent with the actual files stored. In case of SAN, file system consistency checks runs on the host and data (if any) cached in the host’s memory is included in the snapshot.

For application level consistency, the snapshot of the application is taken. If the application is caching any data in its memory, it too is flushed out and then the snapshot is made. Some applications now run in a “hot backup” mode, where the application temporarily logs the I/O to memory.

Parameters to Evaluate Effectiveness in Disk-based Backup Solutions

According to GSS America reviews, the following parameters will help you choose the best disk-based solution in the industry and avoid fraud:

• Performance and through-put
• Compression
• Installation
• Training
• Support
• Market acceptance
• Product maturity
• Integration with existing environment (especially in technology outsourcing and offshore development domains)
• Capacity and scalability
• Disk and media management
• Backup architecture
• Number of server-to-disk paths
• Remote backup strategy
• Network connections

A IT research center has predicted that by next year 50% of all data centers will have to upgrade facilities, relocate, or outsource some IT functions.  The reason:  90% of companies will experience power failures or limited access to power that will affect data center operations.  The US Environmental Protection Agency has warned of a looming shortage of data center floor space.  Green initiatives and high energy costs create serious risks for critical IT business functions.  GSS America Infotech, a provider of datacenter management and consolidation services to global customers, uses simulation technologies to optimize the design and utility of data centers.

GSS America services align business application development, IT management, and facilities management with data center resources during the design phase.  GSS American reviews the existing mix of old and new technologies, business software, and the client IT staff ‘s listed skill sets in order to create the a data center that can support current and future operations.

Leveraging GSS America alliances with major hardware and software manufacturers, the company can create simulation solutions that display performance and business system models comprised of simulation components, such as data center facilities, power generation, cooling plants, and IT servers.  Clients realize the GSS America advantages as visualized in the models of storage networks, virtualized server solutions, and green emission controls that produce lower energy costs and high performance

Simulations can train IT staff.  For example, GSS America excellence in curricula development could create a program that tests team members’ abilities to operate the data center efficiently to achieve designed performance.  The simulation would highlight the gaps in knowledge and technical skills between business Operations, IT, and Facilities.  A second course would introduce processes for coordinating those groups to manage efficiently.  GSS America listed these areas of improvement:  cooling and power systems, storage systems, networking resources, and management utilities.  A final simulation would be used to develop a strategy for data center investment and allocation of resources that drives better asset utilization and higher ROI while advancing business goals.

Case studies that define the benefits of simulation in black and white can be found in the GSS America press room, along with whitepapers and blogs on a variety of topics.

GSS America alliances with leading anti-virus and security software vendors ensure protection against every malware listed.  GSS America reviews every security alert issued and the resolutions announced to design security solutions that incorporate the latest web and email products to block intrusions based on reputation, behavior, and global threat intelligence—not just signatures.  GSS America services instantly detect and block malicious web sites and emails.  GSS America excellence in system design protect against attempts to penetrate the network through a Web 2.0 services, encryption, spam techniques, and black hat phishing scams.  Additional support identifies vulnerabilities that can be exploited by malware.
 

GSS America Listed Key Benefits

• Reliable data security from leading products and expertise – clients rely on the GSS America advantages, proven in many real-world client implementations, to protect against attack.
• Business continuity preserved – users are safe and the network remains available.  Incoming threats are blocked, including viruses, trojans, spyware, DOS attacks, and exploits of browser vulnerabilities.
• Set pre-determined rules that simplify regulatory compliance – filter data traffic to identify regulatory violations, such as PCI, HIPAA, SOX, and other inappropriate content.  As data usage is learned, quickly customize those rules to meet requirements.
• Automatic policy enforcement – avoid sensitive data loss with powerful encryption, quarantine, bounce, and blocked transmissions of confidential records and files; isolate data assets with network usage controls.
• User alerts as risks change – alert users to malicious websites, while teaching better browsing practices.  Includes detailed reports of all exploits and potential spam attacks.
• Protection of confidential data through automatic encryption – determine and enforce comprehensive policies that ensure sensitive information is properly managed.
• Simplify operational processes – consolidate appliances and vendors in the data center to reduce their numbers and costs.
• Operational costs are reduced – Define policies, schedule deployments, and expedite system rollouts with centralized decision making that results from a single-console management solution.
• Cost savings – preventing infections before they can damage systems helps reduce help desk and malware remediation costs.

More information can be found in the GSS America press room on the company’s web site.

In 2009, organizations will face more decision when selecting their computing platforms for business services.  They will have to consider the value of building and managing their own data centers in house versus either using a traditional outsourced service provider, or leveraging a cloud computing provider.  GSS America Infotech, a datacenter management and consolidation services provider, can work with clients to take advantage of all three strategies.

Navigating the Business Technology Ecosystem

Cost-cutting initiatives will dominate enterprise IT this year.  However, cloud computing is not the answer.  That technology is not actually a low-cost alternative for existing applications or service delivery.  Its value is as a new type of technology and delivery model – one that creates new efficiencies and value for the company.

GSS America excellence in cloud computing enables clients to employ many of the same technologies used by providers of cloud computing solutions to establish an agile IT infrastructure – one in which resources are combined and networks are designed as self-service solutions rather than as built to order.  By focusing on the right technologies, companies can extend the life and value of existing resources.  So, virtualization will provide vital, but it is not the single solution for reducing costs.  Instead, automation, from event management to provisioning, is the quickest way to decrease unplanned outages, which means efficiency and immediate savings across the enterprise.

Automation — Storage, Servers, and Network Devices

Virtualization will continue to enable higher levels of data center efficiency, and the differentiation between clients, servers, networks, and storage devices will no longer be black and white.  GSS America services to standardize management and create interoperability will become more important as automation increases in virtualized environments where a single CPU will support multiple resources.  Companies can leverage GSS America advantages by building a virtual data center with automated server management that executes provisioning of infrastructure or applications faster and eliminates noncompliance risks.

Blade Everything

Blade servers will play an important role in the new data center model.  They will be used to run workplace applications and will support mission-critical operations.  Blade servers are part of the new delivery models, including infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) and utility computing.  GSS America alliances with major hardware manufacturers of blade technology ensure clients achieve the cost, change, energy, and time benefits the technology promises.

GSS America reviews the newest blade offerings and has seen ongoing maturation of the product lines.  Blade servers used for application computing, storage, and networking continue to improve their listed energy efficiency and have reduced their footprints in the data center.  For example, GSS America listed requirements for servers used in virtualized configurations that include additional memory, data storage, and network connections.  On the other hand, SaaS infrastructures require ultra-dense servers that quickly process massive amounts of data

Visit the GSS America press room on the company’s web site to learn about these client solutions.